ESV 2 Part (Lowering Calcium Confusion/Clarification)

[smutslinger]

Hello Reefers

I've been following Reef2Reef for years and this is my first post, as I don't know what to do with so much conflicting information..

I scoured the Internet and there's no clear solution/strategy to lower calcium on ESV 2 part

I have a 140 gallon SPS dominant system. And I've been using ESV 2 part for over a year now. My issue is there is so much conflicting information on getting the system in balance and my issue is always been high calcium.

My system is currently at Calcium 540, ALK 8.1, Mag 1453.

My goal is to get the calcium to a 420 to 440 range.

I'm looking for advice on what the best course of action would be to accomplish this with ESV 2 part.

Should I just stop dosing the second part for a couple of days? (Please note: I did just stop dosing the second part last night to see if it will lower the calcium) I'm truly going to slap myself it was that easy the whole time... I keep on reading that you should increase your dosage of both and never dose uneven parts!

I have tried other methods like increasing the equal part dosing hoping things will equal out, but it never seems to.

Thanks reefers, hoping your answers will not only help me but also the reefers that are going to the same struggle I am.

 

[exnisstech]

I know most folk say to dose in equal parts but I have lightened up on the calcium in the past and then went back to equal portions once it came down.

 

[smutslinger]

Yes

I know most folk say to dose in equal parts but I have lightened up on the calcium in the past and then went back to equal portions once it came down.

 

[smutslinger]

Yes In the past they did cut back on the calcium, but then it seems like my magnesium goes through the roof??? I can't make sense of it.

Unless anyone else hass some additional input I think I'm just going to stop dosing part 2 of the 2 part for a few day..

 

[mdb_talon]

Yes just stop dosing the calcium part. The recommendation is always to dose them equally based off them normally being used in equal amounts....however they can become unbalanced and the best way to get in balance is stop the dosing.

Unless you have extremely heavy consumption it is going to take more than a few days to get from 540 to 440 though. If tank has low consumption you likely won't even notice it going down for multiple days when accounting for error margin on tests.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Agree. If calcium is ALREADY too high, dont dose it.

 

[malacoda]

Why not email Bob Stark via the email addy on the ESV website and ask him?

Get an answer straight from the product's creator.

I've emailed a couple times to ask questions and he was very kind and quick too respond both times.

Also, met him when he spoke at the local reef club meeting. Nice guy and willing to help when he can.

 

[smutslinger]

Yes just stop dosing the calcium part. The recommendation is always to dose them equally based off them normally being used in equal amounts....however they can become unbalanced and the best way to get in balance is stop the dosing.

Unless you have extremely heavy consumption it is going to take more than a few days to get from 540 to 440 though. If tank has low consumption you likely won't even notice it going down for multiple days when accounting for error margin on tests.

 

[smutslinger]

Thanks for the recommendation, doing as you advised for the next four days!

question: when I hit the desired calcium should I go back up to the equal dose as alkalinity? Or slowly start raising it?

 

[smutslinger]

Why not email Bob Stark via the email addy on the ESV website and ask him?

Get an answer straight from the product's creator.

I've emailed a couple times to ask questions and he was very kind and quick too respond both times.

Also, met him when he spoke at the local reef club meeting. Nice guy and willing to help when he can.

I have emailed Bob a couple of times… I have yet to get a response.

from reading other posts it seems that his answers are in depth and thoughtful but I’ve yet to get one from Bob (being busy is understandable)

 

[smutslinger]

Agree. If calcium is ALREADY too high, dont dose it.

Thanks for taking the time to respond Randy, I’ve been following your posts happy to get your input!

 

[mdb_talon]

Thanks for the recommendation, doing as you advised for the next four days!

question: when I hit the desired calcium should I go back up to the equal dose as alkalinity? Or slowly start raising it?

Back to dose equal with your alk.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why not email Bob Stark via the email addy on the ESV website and ask him?

Get an answer straight from the product's creator.

I've emailed a couple times to ask questions and he was very kind and quick too respond both times.

Also, met him when he spoke at the local reef club meeting. Nice guy and willing to help when he can.

Bob is nice and knowledgeable, and asking them is probably a fine idea, but that idea DOES NOT extend to other manufacturers. Many are ignorant of their own products.

Rest assured the right answer is already here. We are not guessing. We know with 100% certainty (at least if ESV puts in it what they claim) what the product is and how to use it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for taking the time to respond Randy, I’ve been following your posts happy to get your input!

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the recommendation, doing as you advised for the next four days!

question: when I hit the desired calcium should I go back up to the equal dose as alkalinity? Or slowly start raising it?

Depends on if you know why calcium is high (might be test error, a high calcium salt mix, rising nitrate depleting only alk, etc.)

But in general, equal parts dosing is the default position and then tweak from there as needed.